Microsoft Windows 7 Keyboard shortcuts (hot keys)

Mice might be nice, but Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts save time. The challenge is remembering each one since the list is so long. You could try my method of learning these hot keys. I select one or two each day and build them into my routine.

Here are three of my favorite Microsoft Windows 7 shorcuts: (out of the long list below)

Win+D Minimise everything back to the desktop

Win+Tab (more enjoyable than ALT+Tab; and pretty cool if you keep hitting the Tab button

Win+F Open the search window (how often do you quickly need to search for that darn thing!)

New in Windows 7 (plus some oldies for good measure)

The → symbol stands for the right arrow key, ← for the left arrow key, Win = Start key (with the MS flag logo).

Win+↑ Maximize the current window

Win+↓ If the current window is maximized, restore it; if the current window is restored, minimize it

Win+← Dock the current window to the left half of the screen* If it is already docked left, it is moved to the right half of the screen* If it is already docked right, it is restored to its original size

Win+→ Dock the current window to the right half of the screen* If it is already docked right, it is moved to the left half of the screen* If it is already docked left, it is restored to its original size

Win+Shift+← Move current window to the left monitor (with dual monitors)

Win+Shift+→ Move current window to the right monitor (with dual monitors)

Win+Home Minimize all but the current window

Win+Space Peek at the desktop

Win+[Plus sign] Zoom inWin+[Minus sign] Zoom out

Win+P Open the projection menu (generally used for laptops connected to projectors)

Alt+P In Explorer, show/hide the preview pane

Taskbar Modifiers (New in Windows 7)

Shift+Click Open a new instance of the program

Ctrl+Click Cycle between windows in a group

Middle Click Open a new instance of the program

Ctrl+Shift+Click Open a new instance of the program as Administrator

Shift+Right-Click Show window menu

Managing Windows

Alt+F4 Close the active window

Alt+Tab Switch to previous active window

Alt+Esc Cycle through all open windows

Win+Tab Flip 3D [more info]

Ctrl+Win+Tab Persistent Flip 3D

Win+T Cycle through applications on taskbar (showing its live preview)

Win+M Minimize all open windows

Win+Shift+M Undo all window minimization

Win+D Toggle showing the desktop

Win+↑ Maximize the current window

Win+↓ If the current window is maximized, restore it; if the current window is restored, minimize it

Win+← Dock the current window to the left half of the screen*If it is already docked left, it is moved to the right half of the screen*If it is already docked right, it is restored to its original size

Win+→ Dock the current window to the right half of the screen*If it is already docked right, it is moved to the left half of the screen*If it is already docked left, it is restored to its original size

Win+Shift+← Move current window to the left monitor (with dual monitors)

Win+Shift+→ Move current window to the right monitor (with dual monitors)

Win+Home Minimize all but the current window

Win+Space Peek at the desktop

Win+[Plus sign] Zoom in

Win+[Minus sign] Zoom out

Starting Programs

Win+1 Open the first program on your Quick Launch bar

Win+2 Open the second program on your Quick Launch bar

Win+n Open the nth program on your Quick Launch bar

Win+U Open the ease of access center

Win+F Open the search window

Win+X Open the Mobility Center

Win+E Open Explorer

Win+R Open the Run window [more info]

Win+B Move focus to notification tray (the right-most portion of the taskbar)

Win+P Open the projection menu (generally used for laptops connected to projectors)

Win+Pause Open the System Properties portion from the Control Panel

Ctrl+Shift+Esc Open Windows Task Manager

Logging In And OutWhile the below shortcuts seem unwieldy because of their length, they’re quite easy to remember once you try them out a few times.